Frost Dates for 26501 — Morgantown, West Virginia

Half of springs at Morgantown L&D, WV see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 81% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, longer than at 52% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 199 days one year in ten and falls short of 159 one year in ten. On average 113 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 10 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Morgantown L&D, WV, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,141 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 34% of them (1,078) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 711. Precipitation totals 44.6 inches a year, most in July (4.7") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Morgantown Hart Field, WV, 4 miles east of Morgantown and 415 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 23), a first frost 1 day later (October 24), a season 2 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Morgantown usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Grays Landing, PA, 11.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26501 is 1 mile from Morgantown L&D, WV, which stands at 825 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26501 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.